January 30, 2009 (Jackson, NH) – Dartmouth and U.N.H. dominated Day 1 of the U.N.H. Winter Carnival Nordic races which took place Friday on the race trails and competition arena at Jackson XC. Winning the men’s race was Dartmouth’s Dakota Blackhorse-Von Jess (Bend, OR), followed by home-team U.N.H. racer Steven Bedard (Cheshire, Mass.) and third place Jurgen Uhl (Muhlenbach, Germany) of the University of Vermont. In the women’s competition, Dartmouth took 1-2 with Rosie Brennan (Park City, UT) followed closely by Stephanie Crocker (Poughkeepsie, NY); taking third was U.N.H. Wildcat skier Natasha Kullas (Timmins, Ontario).

The sprint format race featured skiers competing repeatedly on a 1.4km course starting with a “time-trial” (race against the clock) which was used to create a ladder for quarter-finals, semis, and final heats. The top 12 skiers raced a total of four laps on the FIS homologated (internationally certified) race course which included steep climbs and challenging downhill sections in addition to sweeping loops on a golf course which offered many spectator vantage points.

Carnival racing continues in Jackson on Saturday when the men and women will compete in a 10km freestyle (skating technique) race starting at 9:30 am at the race stadium at the Eagle Mountain House. A link to complete results is posted at Jackson XC’s website, www.JacksonXC.org